ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Looking to avenge an overtime loss nearly a month ago in Duluth, the Bethel University men's basketball team took another gut punch falling to St. Scholastica, 69-67, as the Saints converted a tough 15-foot shot with 0.5 seconds left.
Through the final 1:20, the Saints scored the game's final five points hitting the game tying three with 1:04 left before the eventual game-winner. With the hand of
Joey Kidder in his face, Nick Carlson hit the fade away jumper from the left elbow.
Kidder led Bethel with another double-double performance with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Zach Doely's 10 second half points helped him finish with 13 while
Tommy Jensen finished with 12.
The second half had its ups and downs, including a near 15-minute delay due to a power outage on the Arden Hills campus. The final 20 minutes alone saw 12 lead changes and seven ties.
A massive dunk by Doely who then converted the 3-point play gave BU a 63-62 lead with 2:30 left. It seemed to be the momentum shifter at the moment but the Saints came right back at the Royals.
With 1:20 left Kidder laid it off the glass in what would be Bethel's final bucket of the night leading 67-64 with 1:20 left. The Royals had a chance at the line a minute later to go up two but came up empty on both ends.
In the first half both teams got hot from 3-point range combining for 10 makes behind the arc in the half. A trade off of bucks before no one scored in the final 1:27 sent the Royals into the locker room trailing 36-31.
The Royals are back in action for their final regular season home game Saturday against Macalester. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. with a senior day ceremony set to take place beforehand.
